Voice-current telephone repeater



July 3, 1923.

1,460,814 1 .J. H. HOIMRIGHOUS VOICE CURRENT TELEPHONE REPEATER FiledMarch 27 1919 J/Jhn figgummghnus.

Patented July 3, 1923.

.UNITEDSTATES PATENT orrice.

JOHN H. HOMRIGHOUS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATICELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VOICE--CUEEENT TELEPHONE REPEATER.

Application filed March 27, 1919. Serial No. 285,586.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Homers- I-rous, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America and resident of Oak Park, in the county of (look andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVoice-Current Telephone Eepeaters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates in general to voice current repeaters for useintelephone systems, and more specifically to the amplification andtransmission of voice currentsin both directions. Among the features ofmy invention is to provide in such a system a repeater circuit, which isnormally in full repeating relation in both directions, that is, it doesnotrequire a voice controlled switch for putting into communicationthetwo terminating telephone stations, further teaturesare the provision ofvoice operated circuit changing means so as to prevent the so calledsinging of the repeater system, by controlling the circuits of thesystem in such a manner thatthe amplifying device in the end opposite tothat of thereceiving end is inoperative during speech transmi sion. Afurther object of the system described herein is the provision of aspecial form of alternating current relay for use in the repeatercircuit.

Repeaters for accomplishing certain. of

the above results have been used, but so far none have been designedwhich, while in normally full repeating relations in both directionswill automatically adjust itself with reference to the desired directionof speech transmission, without a complicated arrangement of circuitsand devices being used or without a large loss of energy. It is thoughtthat the following description of my improved repeater will make clearto one skilled in the art that these results have been accomplished bythe arrangement shown in the drawings in a very highly desirable form inwhich the transmission loss is practicallynegligible. Having pointed outthe features of my invention and the general method of accomplishing thedesired results, I will now describe theoperation in detail by.referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 represents the out my invention.

core pieces 14 and 15 for the coils 16. Above the core pieces 14. and 15a narrow strip of flexible material 17 which irorms the arma ture forthe relay is suspended. betweeirthe upper extremities of a U shapedmember 18, which member is rigidly secured to the base plate 5 by meansoi screws, best shown in Fig. 3. Projecting downward from the lever 19is astem 20 which passes through an opening in the armature 17 and isfirmly secured thereto by nuts. One end of the lever 19 is pivoted tothe member 21; the opposite end is provided with a contact which innormal position rests between the contacts on springs 7 and 10. Thesprings 7 to 10 inclusive, are secured to the mem her 6 which is firmlyfastened to the base plate 5. Near the end 01 member 6 a por tion 11 isformed into a U shaped structure so that the screw 13 in the lower endpasses through an opening in spring 10 and rest against the heavy spring9. Likewise the screw 12 passes through an opening in the spring '7 andrest against the heavy spring 8. The light springs Tend 1.0 aretensioned to follow the heavy springs 8 and S) respectively, so that bymeans of the adjusting screws 12 and 1.3 the contacts on the springs 7and 10 maybe brought as close to the contact on the lever 19 asdesirable. The operation is as follows: When the armature 17 is causedto vibrate by alternating or undulating current flowing through thecoils 16. the lever 19 will vibrate and make contact with the springs 7and 10. The'springs 7 and 10 will follow the lever 19, that is, thelever 19 will contact with spring 7 before spring 10 breaks contact, andvice versa. By connecting the springs 7 and 10 together, a circuit maybe closed by the lever 19 con tacting either springythat is, when thearmature 17 is flexed in either direction responsive to the firstalternation of current in the coils- 16 oneoi the springs will becontacted. Therefore, it will be seen that I have devised a veryeflicient sensitive alternating current relay which, is adapted for,

3, the rei many uses, and which may be, arranged to operate with voicecurrent. Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, E and F representthe ends of toll lines between'which is inserted the two-way'repeat ingapparatus. 30 and 31 representdiagrammatically one way repeaters,Repeater 30 is arranged for repeating voice currentstraveh ing in thedirection from F to E andrepeater 31 is arranged for repeating voicecurrents throughywinding 37' in series with primary winding, 36 whichWinding is inductively connected o through secondary winding 39 of atransformer to thevenergizing portion of repeater 30in bridge with thesensitive re lay 38". I The transmitting circuit" or reinforcing portionofrepeater 30 isinductively connected through primary winding 34 andsecondary. winding 33 to the line E. The sensitive relays 37 and38 arepreferably of the; type herein before, described in conneo tion withFiguresQ and 3. Relay 37, which I isoperated by thevoice currentsinduced in the receiving circuit of repeater 31 via line, E controls asecond relay 39 which relay 39" is normally partially energized by meansof its lowerw-inding 'sothat it will operate its armaturequickly whenthe circuit for its upper winding is closed. Springs 41: controlled byrelay 39 are arranged to short circuit the electromagnet ofrepeater-BO-and the sensitive relay 38. Likewise, the sensitive relay38" controls a: relay 40 similar to the relay 39", which relay 40 isadapted to short circuitthe electromagnet ofrepeater 31 w and the relay37. The operation of the system described above is as follows: Whencomparatively weak or attenuated voice currents reach the two-wayrepeater, circuit via line E, the

g electromagnetof repeater 3'1 and the sensiti ve' relay 37 will beenergized in multiple through primary winding 32 and secondary winding35 of the receiving circuit associated with line E. The flowof voicecurrent through the windingsof relay 37' causes its armature to vibratein a manner hereinbefore described to close a circuit for the upperwinding of relay 39. Relay 39 will new" energize as the two-windingsassist each other, to short circuit at springs 41,

ing of the repeater circuit; The electromagnet of repeater 31 which isenergized in multiple with relay. 37', will agitate its microphone ina'manner well known in the art, to set up variation of current strengthin the local circuit consisting of battery B and primary winding 38, Thecurrent changes produced in the winding 38 cause a current ofincreasedrvoltage to be induced in the winding 37. Therefore amplifiedvoice currents will flow over line F.

The operation of the two-way repeater circuit for voice currentsreaching it via. line connection F will be similar to theoperation justdescribed, since the two-way repeater circuit shown. isasymmetricalarrangement.

Thevsprings 43 controlled by the relay-3W are adapted to control anormally opentransmitting circuitof repeater 31, that is, the circuitconsisting of battery B and winding 38- would be closed at Springs 43upon the operation: of relay 39". Likewise thersprings 44 may control anormally open transmittingcircuit of; repeater 30 It will be seentherefore, that I have pro 1 vided a very. simple and, highly desirabletype of voice current repeater in which the two terminating stations arenormally in full repeating relation; in eitherdirection.

Having fully described and: ascertained, the features of my'inventionand method of accomplishing the. desired results, I will point out inthe appended; claims what I consider to be new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus; consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, and a voice currentcontrolled circuit changing device included in the energizing circuit ofeach repeater and operating with its associated repeater to render theother repeater inoperative.

2. In a telephone system, a pair or lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting ofitwo repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice current controlled circuit changing deviceelectrically con-f nected in multiple with the energizing circuit ofeach repeater, and ci'rcuiits wherebythe device in the circuit ofonerepeater ran ders the other repeater inoperative while said firstrepeater is operating to repeat voice currents.

3. In a telephone system, a pair or lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus,

said apparatus consisting oftwo repeaters each normally in fullrepeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit for eachrepeater, a voice current controlled circuit'changing device in theenergizing circuit of each repeater, and means whereby the device in theenergizing circuit of one repeater renders the other repeaterinoperative while saidlirst repeater is operating to repeat voicecurrents.

4. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice actuatedcircuit controlling device in theenergizing circuit of each repeater, and; means whereby each de vicerenders a different one of said repeaters inoperative while the otherrepeateris operating to repeat'voice currents.

5. In a telephone system, a pair o'f'lines joinedby a two-way repeatingapparatus,

said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally in fullrepeating relation to one or" said lines, an energizing circuit for eachrepeater, a voice current controlled circuit changing device in theenergizing circuit of eachrepeater, and means whereby the device in theenergizing circuit of one repeater renders the other repeater and itsassociated device inoperative while said first repeater is operating torepeat voice currents; j j

6. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice current controlled circuit changing devices inthe energizing circuit of each repeater, and circuit connections wherebythe device in the energizing circuit of one repeater short-circuits theenergizing circuit of the other repeater while said first repeater isoperating to repeat voice currents.

7. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice current controlled device in the energizingcircuit of each re peater, and circuit changing means controlled by saiddevices arranged to render the energizing circuit of a respective one ofsaid repeaters inoperative.

8. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice current controlled device in the energizingcircuit of each repeater, and relays controlled by said. devices, eachof said relays arranged to render one of said repeaters inoperative.

9. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters. each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a voice current controlled device in the energizingcircuit of each repeater, and direct current relays controlled. by saiddevices, each of said relays arranged to render one of said repeatersinoperative.

10. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters each normally infull repeating relation to one of said lines, an energizing circuit foreach repeater, a sensitive relay in metallic relation to the energizingcircuit of each repeater, and direct current relays controlled by saidsensitive relays, each direct current relay arranged to render one ofsaid repeaters inoperative.

11. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined. by a two wayrepeating apparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters eachhaving an electromagnet and each normally in full repeating relation toone of said lines, a circuit for each of said electromagnets, asensitive relay in multiple with the circuit of each electromagnet, anddirect current relays controlled by said sensitive relays, said directcurrent relay arranged to render one of said repeaters inoperative whilesaid other repeater is operating to repeat voice currents.

12. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-Way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two one-way repeaters eachhaving an electromagnet and each normally in full repeating relation toone of said lines, a circuit for each of said electromagnets, asensitive relay in the circuit of each electromagnet, and normallypartially energized relays controlled by said sensitive relays, each oneof said second relays arranged to render one of said repeatersinoperative while the other one of said repeaters is operating to repeatvoice currents.

13. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-way repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two one-way repeaters eachhaving an electromagnet and each normally in full repeating relation toone of said lines, a circuit for each of each electromagnets, asensitive relay in the circuit of one of said electromagnets, and anor-- mally partially energized relay controlled by said sensitive relayand arranged to short circuit the electromagnet of the other repeaterwhile said first repeater is operating to repeat voice currents.

14. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a voice currentrepeater always termers, the devices associatedwith said first infullrepeating-relation to one of said lines, comprising an amplifier forrepeating in each direction over said lines, and a voice currentcontrolled switching device for each line connected directly to: theenergizing circuit of each of said amplifiers, each device. controlledfrom its 'associated'lineto short circuit one of said amplifiers.

15. In a telephone system, a line, a transformer for said line, a secondline, a transformer for said second line, an energizing circuit for eachtransformer, voice current controlled devices associated with eachv lineand connected in multiple-With the energiz- I in-g circuit of each ofsaid transformers, and

circuits whereby each device short-circuits a Winding of one of saidtransformers.

16. In a tcle-phonefsystem a line, a trans.- iiormer for said line, asecond line, a transr former forsaid second line, an energizing circuitfor each transformer, voice current controlled circuit changing devices,associated with each line connected directly to. the energizing circuitof each of said transline andcontrolled thereoverheing arranged to shortcircuit a Winding of the transformer of; said second line.-

17. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-Way repeatingapparatus,

pea-ten and operating with its amociated re peater to render the otherrepeater inoperative.

18. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-We repeatingapparatus, said apparatus consisting of two one-way repeaters eachhaving an electromagnet and each normally in full repeating relation toone of said lines, a. circuit for each of said. electromagnets, asensitive relay in the circuit 01? each one. of said electromagnets, arelayhaving two, windings, one of said windings permanently energizedand the other controlled by one of said sensitive relays to causesaidrelayto short circuit the electromagnet ozfi'one repeater while theother repeater' is operating to repeat voice currents, and a similardouble wound relay controlled by the other of said sensitive relays.

19'. In a telephone system, a pair of lines joined by a two-Wayrepeating apparatus, said apparatus consisting of two repeaters eachhaving a multiple circuit included therein comprising a transformerwinding, and a plurality of relays, said relays all 0 erable in responseto a current induced in the transformer, one of said relays foroperating an amplifying device to transmit ampligfied voice currents toone of said lines and the other relay operating to make the amplifyingdevice associated with the other line inoperative.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, this 25th day of March,1919.

JOHN H. HOMRIGHOUS.

